Apparatus for dispensing dough in a pattern utilizing moveable nozzles

Abstract

A plurality of compressible chambers dispense measured amounts of dough through one or more nozzles suspended universally from the bottom of each chamber for swivel movement relative thereto. The nozzles are interconnected by a plate movable in a plane to jointly rotate the nozzles simultaneously in a circuitous manner as the dough is dispensed to provide a predetermined swirl design of the dough as it is dispensed on the moving conveyor. The plate includes openings through which the nozzles extend and are universally connected. The movement of the plate is responsive to a rotating cam which eccentrically drives a follower on the plate to dictate the preselected swirl design.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. Apparatus for dispensing dough in a predetermined pattern onto a conveyor or the like comprising, in combination: a support; one or more dispensing chambers fixed to said support, said chambers defining a conduit through which measured amounts of dough are dispensed, said chambers being mounted to said support whereby flow through said chambers is in a generally vertical downward direction, each of said chambers including a bottom having one or more openings; one or more nozzles depending from said bottom in a generally vertical direction and having a portion extending into said bottom openings and being mounted relative said chamber bottom by a first mounting means whereby said nozzle can be pivoted circuitously in a swivel fashion such that the axis of the nozzle is at an angle to the vertical, said first mounting means being an annular ring means projecting outwardly from said nozzle receivable in an annular socket on said support forming a ball and socket joint; dough being dispensed through said one or more nozzles along the axis of each nozzle onto the conveyor or the like; means interconnecting said one or more nozzles jointly together, and a drive means for moving said interconnecting means whereby said nozzles are driven simultaneously together relative said support whereby the axis of said nozzles is swiveled at a preselected angle of incidence to the axis of said conduit such that the dough is deposited on the conveyor or the like in a preselected swirl design. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus for dispensing dough in a predetermined pattern onto a conveyor or the like comprising, in combination: a support; one or more dispensing chambers fixed to said support, said chambers defining a conduit through which measured amounts of dough are dispensed, said dispensing chambers being mounted to said support whereby flow through said chambers is in a generally vertical downward direction, each of said chambers including a bottom having one or more openings; one or more nozzles swivelly connected to said chambers and depending from the bottom of said chambers in a generally vertical direction and having a portion extending into said bottom openings and being mounted relative said chamber bottom by a first mounting means whereby said nozzle can be pivoted circuitously in swivel fashion such that the axis of the nozzle is at an angle to the vertical; dough being dispensed through said one or more nozzles along the axis of each nozzle onto the conveyor or the like; means interconnecting said one or more nozzles jointly together, wherein said interconnecting means is a plate spaced from said support, said plate having a plurality of spaced openings through which said nozzles extend; and a drive means for moving said plate circuitously in the plane of said plate to drive said nozzles simultaneously together relative said plate and support whereby the axis of said nozzles is swivelled at a preselected angle of incidence to the axis of said conduit such that the dough is deposited on the conveyor or the like in a preselected swirl design. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said nozzles are anchored to said plate by a second mounting means comprising an annular ring means projecting outwardly from said nozzle and receivable in an annular socket on said plate forming a ball and socket joint whereby the discharge opening of said nozzle is moved in a plane parallel to the plane of said plate as said drive means circuitously drives said plate. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the projection of said nozzle as it is driven circuitously by said plate defines a segment of a cone, the apex being the axis of rotation of said first mounting means and the base being in the plane of movement of the discharge opening of said nozzle. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said drive means is comprised of a cam rotatable on said support and a cam follower mounted on said plate, the axis of said follower being displaced from the axis of said cam whereby said follower is driven electrically causing circular movement of said plate within the plane of said plate. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said cam is rotated intermittently in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of selected angular durations causing a reactionary circuitous movement of said nozzles as dough is dispensed through said nozzles to form a preselected swirl design of the dough on a conveyor or the like. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for dispensing dough in a predetermined pattern onto a surface comprising, in combination: a support; a dough dispensing chamber secured to said support; one or more nozzles connected to the bottom of said chamber for  dispensing dough from said chamber onto said surface, said nozzles mounted to said chamber for swivel movement relative said chamber and said support, the axis of each nozzle being rotatable at an angle to the direction of movement of dough from said chamber into said nozzles; plate means interconnecting said one or more nozzles jointly together, said plate means having a plurality of spaced openings through which each of said one or more nozzles extend; and drive means for moving said plate means circuitously with the plane of said plate means, said drive means when actuated driving said one or more nozzles circuitously by said plate means simultaneously together relative both said plate and said support causing said nozzles to deposit dough onto said surface in a preselected swirl design. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said nozzles are anchored to said plate in said openings by a mounting means whereby said nozzle is moved jointly with said plate but will swivel relative said plate. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said mounting means includes an annular ring means projecting outwardly from said nozzle and receivable in an annular socket on said plate forming a ball and socket joint whereby the discharge opening of said nozzle is moved in a plane parallel to the plate of said plate as said drive means moves said plate. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said plate is driven in a circuitous fashion, each of said nozzle axes being likewise circuitously driven to define a segment of a cone the apex being at the connection of said nozzle to said chamber and the base being in the plane of movement of the discharge opening of said nozzle. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the drive means includes a cam rotatable on said support and a cam follower on said plate, the axis of said follower being displaced from the axis of said cam whereby said follower is driven in a circle causing circular movement of said plate within the plane of said plate. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said dispensing chamber includes a first portion mounted stationary to said support and a second portion movable relative said support and first portion whereby the volume of said chamber can be arbitrarily decreased forcing a predetermined volume of dough to be dispensed out of said chamber through said nozzles. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein bias means are provided to rapidly return said chamber to its original volume when said volume reducing means is released to cause a partial vacuum within said chamber cutting off the flow abruptly at the discharge orifice of said nozzles. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said apparatus includes a plurality of dough dispensing chambers, each chamber having one or more nozzles connected to the bottom thereof, said plate interconnecting all of said nozzles for joint movement relative said support and plate. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus for dispensing dough in a predetermined pattern onto a conveyor or the like comprising, in combination: a support; one or more dispensing chambers fixed to said support, said chambers defining a conduit through which measured amounts of dough are dispensed; one or more nozzles swivelly connected to said chambers, dough being dispensed through said one or more nozzles along the axis of each nozzle onto the conveyor or the like; plate means interconnecting said one or more nozzles jointly together, said plate means having a plurality of spaced openings, said nozzles extending through said openings; and a drive means for moving said plate means circuitously in the plane of said plate means, whereby said nozzles are driven circuitously by said plate means simultaneously together relative both said plate and support whereby the axis of said nozzles is swiveled at a preselected angle of incidence to the axis of said conduit such that the dough is deposited on the conveyor or the like in a preselected swirl design.